Aspects described relate to analyzing data at a high level of abstraction. “Smarts,” incorporating one or more analytic patterns, may be applied to data sources. These Smarts may be in the form of at least one of an equation, rule, constraint or expression to generate a result from applying the analytic pattern to the data. Smarts may be pre-defined and selected from a library based on user preference and the data input. Any suitable user interface may be used to apply analytic pattern(s) to items of data as well as provide a visual environment for a user to make intuitive adjustments to the data, add controls in the user interface to filter or constrain the data, or combinations thereof, resulting in one or more modified results.
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1. A method comprising: with at least one processor: providing a library comprising a plurality of reusable components encoding corresponding analytic patterns; providing a menu listing the plurality of reusable components of the library; receiving a first user input identifying a selected reusable component from the menu, wherein the selected reusable component encodes a selected analytic pattern corresponding to the selected reusable component; receiving a second user input specifying a data source of at least one data connector of the selected reusable component; receiving a third user input specifying filter criteria to be applied to data from the specified data source to obtain filtered data; and executing the selected reusable component on the filtered data to produce at least one result by evaluating at least one of an equation, rule, constraint or expression representing the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source, wherein the selected reusable component includes metadata configured to generate a visual object displaying operation of the selected analytic pattern.
A method for analyzing data uses a software library of reusable components, each encoding a different analytic pattern (equation, rule, constraint, or expression). The user selects a component (and thus a pattern) from a menu, specifies the data source(s) for that component, and defines filter criteria to pre-process the data. The selected component is then executed on the filtered data, producing a result. This result is generated by applying the analytic pattern to the filtered data. The component also includes metadata to generate a visual display showing how the analytic pattern operates.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the selected reusable component to produce at least one result comprises at least one of: selecting an ensemble of first items according to the selected analytic pattern from the filtered data obtained from the specified data source; minimizing a distance between second items represented by the filtered data according to the selected analytic pattern; generating a proposed map indicating a plurality of locations; generating a plan for third items to occur according to the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source; generating a schedule for fourth items to occur, the schedule being generated according to the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source; maximizing merit for fifth items according to the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source; or generating a prioritized list of sixth items according to the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source.
The method of claim 1, where executing the selected reusable component includes one or more of the following: selecting a group of relevant data items; minimizing the difference between data items; suggesting locations on a map; planning events; scheduling tasks; maximizing a merit function; or creating a prioritized list, all according to the chosen analytic pattern from the filtered data. The user chooses a component and sets parameters, and the system applies it to produce the described output based on the pattern.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein: executing the selected reusable component comprises generating the plan, and generating the plan comprises generating a list of action items.
The method of claim 2, where executing the selected reusable component involves generating a plan that lists specific action items. The selected analytic pattern and filtered data are used to determine what actions are included in the generated plan. Essentially, the system outputs a to-do list based on the chosen analysis.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein: executing the selected reusable component comprises generating the schedule, and generating the schedule comprises generating a list of events to occur at specified times.
The method of claim 2, where executing the selected reusable component involves generating a schedule that lists events occurring at specific times. The selected analytic pattern and filtered data dictate when these events are scheduled. This allows the system to generate a timeline of activities based on the applied analysis.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the selected reusable component comprises generating an interactive representation according to the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data obtained from the specified data source.
The method of claim 1, where executing the selected reusable component generates an interactive visual representation reflecting the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data. This visualization allows the user to explore the results of the data analysis in a dynamic way.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating an output based on the at least one result.
The method of claim 1, further updating an output based on the generated result. This means the system doesn't just produce a result, but also uses that result to modify or improve a subsequent output or process.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the selected reusable component includes performing the visual object displaying operation and thereby displaying the at least one result.
The method of claim 1, where executing the selected reusable component involves the visual object displaying operation, thereby displaying the result. The system directly shows the result of applying the analytic pattern to the user.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual object displaying operation of the selected analytic pattern includes displaying an input of at least a portion of the specified data source to the at least one data connector.
The method of claim 1, where the visual object displaying operation includes displaying the input data being fed into the data connector of the selected analytic pattern. The visualization shows the raw data alongside the analyzed result.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual object displaying operation of the selected analytic pattern includes displaying the at least one result of evaluating the at least one of the equation, the rule, the constraint or the expression representing the selected analytic pattern and the filtered data.
The method of claim 1, where the visual object displaying operation includes displaying the result of evaluating the equation, rule, constraint, or expression representing the analytic pattern applied to the filtered data. The visualization shows both input and the processed output.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the selected reusable component includes displaying intermediate process steps of the executing according to the visual object displaying operation.
The method of claim 1, where executing the selected reusable component includes displaying intermediate steps in the execution process according to the visual object displaying operation. The visualization shows the stages of analysis.
11. At least one computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method comprising: receiving a first user input selecting a component encoding an analytic pattern; receiving a second user input entering one or more declarative statements and modifying the analytic pattern to reflect the one or more declarative statements; specifying a data source for at least one data connector of the selected component; receiving a third user input specifying filter criteria to be applied to data from the specified data source to obtain filtered data; executing the selected component on the filtered data to produce an interactive visualization of at least one result by evaluating the filtered data and the analytic pattern, the executing including evaluating the filtered data according to the one or more declarative statements entered by the second user input; receiving a fourth user input specifying further filter criteria to be applied to the data from the specified data source to obtain further filtered data; and responsive to receiving the fourth user input, automatically re-executing the selected component on the further filtered data with the one or more declarative statements entered by the second user input.
A computer-readable storage device stores instructions for a data analysis method. The method takes a selected analytic pattern component and modifies the pattern based on user-provided declarative statements. A data source and filter criteria are specified. The component is executed on the filtered data, producing an interactive visualization of the results, considering both the data and the user-provided statements. When new filter criteria is applied, the component automatically re-executes on the newly filtered data, using the same user-provided declarative statements, showing the effect of changed filters on the analysis.
12. The at least one computer-readable storage device of claim 11 , the method further comprising: providing a display interface comprising a control, wherein the third user input manipulates the control to specify the filter criteria and the fourth user input manipulates the control to specify the further filter criteria.
The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, where specifying filter criteria is done through a control on a display interface that can be manipulated to change the filtering. When the user interacts with the control to change filter criteria, the visualization is automatically updated.
13. The at least one computer-readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein the control comprises an adjustable slider that is moved by the third user input to specify the filter criteria and moved again to specify the further filter criteria.
The computer-readable storage device of claim 12, where the control is an adjustable slider used to define the filter criteria. Moving the slider adjusts the filter, and the system automatically re-executes with the new criteria.
14. A system comprising: at least one processor; and computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: provide a user interface comprising a menu of reusable components encoding corresponding analytic patterns, receive a first user input identifying a selected reusable component from the menu, wherein the selected reusable component encodes a selected analytic pattern corresponding to the selected reusable component, the selected analytic pattern comprising a mathematical operation, receive a second user input specifying a data source of at least one data connector of the selected reusable component, evaluate the selected analytic pattern comprising the mathematical operation on data from the specified data source to obtain a result, receive a third user input specifying filter criteria to be applied to the data from the specified data source to obtain filtered data, responsive to receipt of the third user input, automatically re-evaluate the selected analytic pattern comprising the mathematical operation on the filtered data to obtain a further result, and automatically update the user interface to reflect the further result responsive to receipt of the third user input.
A system comprises a processor and instructions to: provide a user interface with a menu of reusable components encoding analytic patterns (using mathematical operations); receive user input to select a component and a data source; evaluate the analytic pattern on the data; receive input to filter the data; automatically re-evaluate the analytic pattern on the filtered data; and automatically update the user interface to show the new result. Essentially, a user selects a mathematical analysis, inputs data, filters it, and the results are automatically updated in the interface.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises an adjustable control configured to receive the third user input.
The system of claim 14, where the user interface includes an adjustable control for specifying the filter criteria. This allows the user to dynamically change the filter and observe the effect on the results in real-time.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the result comprises multiple locations and the user interface comprises a map of the multiple locations.
The system of claim 14, where the result of the analysis comprises multiple locations, and the user interface displays these locations on a map. The system shows a map of locations based on the data analysis.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the further result comprises different locations than the multiple locations of the result.
The system of claim 16, where filtering the data results in a different set of locations compared to the initial result. Changes to the input data results in a updated map showing the different output locations.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to: responsive to receipt of the third user input, automatically update the map to show the different locations.
The system of claim 17, where upon receiving the third user input specifying filter criteria, the map is automatically updated to display the different locations. The map dynamically changes as the data is filtered.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to: automatically update the user interface to show the filtered data responsive to receipt of the third user input.
The system of claim 14, where upon receiving the third user input specifying filter criteria, the user interface is automatically updated to display the filtered data. The system shows not only the result of the analysis, but also the data being analyzed.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to: apply the filter criteria to the data to obtain the filtered data; and populate an input variable of an equation included in the selected analytic pattern to re-evaluate the selected analytic pattern, the equation comprising the mathematical operation.
The system of claim 14, where the instructions cause the processor to apply the filter criteria to the data and populate an input variable of an equation in the selected analytic pattern. Then, the equation is re-evaluated using this filtered data, resulting in the updated result. The system uses the data input by the user to filter, then passes it to the underlying formula and displays the result.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 8, 2010
August 13, 2013
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